Clare laughed, the sound deep and throaty, and the noise startled Zachary awake. Julia deftly dealt with her son, bringing him into her arms.
“I had an epiphany of my own this last year. My word was gratitude but it should have been surprise!”
They all laughed again, garnering interest from the people who sat around them.
“I remember the day you told us you were pregnant,” Karen said, grinning down at Zachary who looked back at her with big beautiful blue eyes.
“A baby at this time of my life. Oh, pleasssse, say it isn’t so.”
The laughter rang out again.
“Our family’s working as a team now,” Julia said. “I’m amazed at Adam and Zoe and how unselfish they’ve become for Zack. What an incredible blessing he’s been.”
He gurgled as though to add his own comment.
“The last few months have been hectic,” she continued. “It isn’t easy having a newborn in the house, especially a preemie who needs a lot of extra care. Starting over with another child is a challenge, I’ll grant you that—but I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“You said you had an epiphany?”
“Basically that’s it,” Julia said. “I realized that I can have it all. The big beautiful home, the husband and family, plus the career. Just not at the same time. I will return to my shop, but not until it’s right for Zack.”
“That is so wise,” Karen said, as though in awe.
“You’d be surprised how smart we all are,” Clare said, “you included.” She wanted Karen to realize her contribution to the group.
So here they were, the four of them, each at a different place in her life. They could laugh together and cry together and often did, sometimes both at once. To everything there is a season, and these were the seasons of their lives.
Four women, all friends, who met every Thursday morning at eight.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-5984-7
THURSDAYS AT EIGHT
Copyright © 2001 by Debbie Macomber.
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